Put on your running shoes this Sunday and get set for marathon that also promises to instil hope and cheer among cancer patients. The 8th edition of annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research is here. It is one of the most popular running events in the city calendar owing to the cause it supports. Over the last few years celebrities, corporates, college and school students, entrepreneurs and homemakers have taken part in it. This year too over 15,000 people are expected to participate in this run for charity. It will be flagged off from IIT-Madras campus.
The Terry Fox Run is a non-competitive event held over 600 cities in 53 countries to raise money exclusively for cancer research. Terrance Stanley ‘Terry’ Fox (July 28, 1958 - June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete and cancer activist. He became famous for the ‘Marathon of Hope’, a cross- Canada run to raise money for cancer research, which he himself ran with a prosthetic leg. Millions of supporters across the globe run every year to keep up his legacy to create cancer awareness and raise funds for cancer research. Over INR 1,00,00,000 (one crore rupees) has been donated by numerous large and small contributors to cancer research. The funds raised in 2015 were used for the cancer research projects of Vision Research Foundation (Division of Sankara Nethralya) and Adyar Cancer Institute.
The run was brought to Chennai by Akash Dube, a cancer patient in 2009 with the help of the Rotary Club of Madras East & IIT Madras. He had participated in the Terry Fox Run, Dubai. He battled cancer with zest and courage but succumbed in 2012. But his spirit lives on through the run.
The last 7 runs have been an amazing success with more than 40,000 supporters participating, and celebrities like Vikram, Anu Haasan, Radhika and Sarath Kumar giving their support.
So what are you waiting for! This Sunday just head to the IIT campus at 8 am and get ready to run for charity.There is no registration fee and supporters can donate and/or participate in the run.
